New Worry for Apple

Many of Verizon's iPhones Went to Cost-Conscious Buyers

By

Anton Troianovski,

Thomas Gryta and

Ian Sherr

Updated Jan. 22, 2013 7:13 p.m. ET

Enter the cost-conscious iPhone buyer.

Verizon Wireless revealed Tuesday that it activated 6.2 million of the Apple Inc. devices, more than many analysts had expected. But it also said fewer than half of those customers paid up for the latest model, evidence of strong demand for smartphones among people who aren't buying top-of-the-line gadgets.

For Apple, which is to issue a highly anticipated quarterly earnings report...